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Member since 2/16/06
Posts: 165
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Posted on: 2/22/07 4:10 PM ET
I bought two shirts (maybe dresses, who knows?) at Forever 21 today. They fit great, but their design is not so great for my shape. I'm a pear and it hits me just in the wrong spot. Plus anything draped over my butt = not good. I need fitted stuff.



The shirts are shaped like design #1, with lots of free flowing fabric, like a skirt. I want them to be shaped like #2, just a fitted halter top.

I don't want to just start ripping seams and mess them up so is there a preferred technique for modifying a shirt like this? Something step by step maybe? Thanks in advance!
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Member since 7/30/02
Posts: 8991
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Posted on: 2/22/07 7:35 PM ET
Perhaps someone w/ more expertise will pipe in, but here are some thoughts:

Starting w/ the easy part: you will need to shorten them.

You don't mention what you have for seams now, so I'll guess that it is only two side seams and perhaps a center back seam (and probably an empire waist). This works well for loose, flowing garments but less well for fitted garments. So you might not be able to get the look you want.

I would start by simply pin-fitting the side seams to approximate the look you want. Make certain that you can still put on & take off the garment; you don't mention how that is done (back zip?). Simply stitch those along your new line. You will probably want to do a 2nd row of stitching to prevent fraying, and then cut of the extra fabric.

Other options, in addition to this, would be to add double-ended darts to the front to get a more fitted effect without seams.



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Member since 9/14/05
Posts: 2037
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Posted on: 2/23/07 0:40 AM ET
Usually looser fitting clothes like that top are made from fabric that drapes a lot and doesn't work well for closely fitted styles. It would bag out and wouldn't hang right.
If it hits you at the wrong spot, just hem it to a flattering length.
When you shop or sew in the future, you can get your fitted tops.
  
Member since 4/11/02
Posts: 10809
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Posted on: 2/23/07 7:30 AM ET
Hmmm. I actually think the top on the left is more flattering to a pear shape since it hides "pear-ness" while the other one seems to emphasize it. Maybe you only need to hem it shorter and not take it in??

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"I base my fashion sense on what doesn't itch." — Gilda Radner
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Member since 2/16/06
Posts: 165
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Posted on: 2/23/07 11:34 AM ET
Maybe I should just hem it then. It's just draping on my butt in a really bad place, and the hemline comes shorter in the back cause of the shelf, I mean butt.

To answer the other questions, they both are halter tops you put on over your head and have a tie that ties around the neck and another to tighten under the bust, that ties in the back near the bra strap area.

Any good techniques for getting the hemline even?
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